- Future of the Forum

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Chairman confirmed there has been a change to the Council’s Constitution and that this brought fears that the Forum funding (for venue, printing/distribution) would be withdrawn.
However, in response to our written question to Council, Cllr David Smith stated this support would continue.
This Committee is prepared to continue serving and will review the arrangements at a later date if this is found not to happen.

- Townsend School

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Cllr Michael Weinhonig stated that the school is now closed, but the community /Councillors and Officers are minded it must be used for the community.
A business plan will go to Cabinet in November with proposals to maintain the playing field/changing rooms, the primary school hub kitchen supplying all schools with hot meals, adding the sports hall to the Community Centre, Adult and Community Learning facilities, the Neighbourhood Nursery. Anyone else can use the facilities at other times.
PCSO Majid Samadi runs tag rugby; there is weekly “X Factor” and other programmes.
A local security guard is so impressed with the community spirit he will undertake a 266 mile Pennine Walk to raise money for the community centre (sponsors wanted).
Cllr Weinhonig appealed for people to use the centre or risk losing it.

- Throop Mill

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Chairman
There has been extensive correspondence between the Council Legal Department and the solicitors acting for the Mill owners concerning essential repairs to the Mill.

A Section 215 Notice has been issued requiring work to be undertaken but this has been subject to an appeal by the owners of the property. The main problem appears to be the requirement for the sack dormer to be strengthened which the owners are arguing requires major work to be undertaken and that there is no danger of it collapsing.

Various attempts have been made to agree with the owners as to the level of work to be undertaken to avoid court action but that has proved not to be successful, so on Wednesday, 13th August the matter went before the Magistrates Court.
Very surprisingly the owners solicitors failed to show up at the hearing and despite requests to have the case awarded in favour of the Council it was ruled that the hearing would moved to take place in November 2008, when a three day hearing is planned.

The costs of all of this are significant and without doubt far exceed the work requested to be undertaken. However, there is some hope that agreement can be reach before the hearing takes place.

With regards to the future usage of the Mill, English Heritage has not given any clear guidance but has stated that the Council should base any planning application on local and national guidance and the owners solicitors have been requested to submit plans for any change of use (such as offices) they are considering. It is possible that no remedial work undertaken until planning permission is granted or a court ruling is made.

Hicks Farm

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There were plans, following a £15,000 feasibility study undertaken by the previous council administration, to convert Hicks Farm and land to achieve a country park for North Bournemouth which would have provided an exciting Environment and Ecological Education centre for our young people.

There are various grants available for such a development and as it is sited on the flood plain of the River Stour it is likely that any possible housing development on the site would be ruled out by the Environment Agency.

The current council has has determined its next three years capital priorities and I am sorry to say the development of Hicks Farm is not considered a high priority project only a medium one. Therefore no further specific work will be undertaken on this project and currently it appears that no date has been fixed in the Cabinet Forward Plan for a further report on this matter.

This is very unfortunate as Hicks Farm and surrounding buildings are now in extremely poor condition and the farm house is a grade 2 listed building.

- Fire Safety Checks

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(Telephone: 01202 538282) Following F/O Steve Mant’s talk Forum 5th June 2008, Secretary took advantage of Fire Safety Check.
F/O Dave Prior attended, giving realistic, sensible advice.
Secretary highly recommends people take advantage of this offer.

- Strouden Park Community Centre

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Cllr John Trickett stated there are no flats planned, but 10 Sheltered Housing in Craigmoor + a Community Centre and 8 Affordable Housing units with Shared ownership in Bradpole Road.
This is at the pre-planning stage.
However downturn in housing marked leaves Signpost homes concerned re: Shared ownership, but Councillors are committed to the Community Centre.
Some sound oak trees in Vanguard Road will have to be felled, but the area needs a Community Centre and the Council wants to support it.

- Mineral Extraction Hurn

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Mineral Site Allocation Report.
Proposal to extract from 1 site on edge of conurbation at Hurn (map on notice board).
Meeting 6th November Hurn Bridge Sports Centre and on Dorset website/leaflets.
Traffic 63 movements per day up to 150 by year 4.
Consultation is open until December.

- Town Centre Master Vision

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Stephen Godsall, Programme Director BBCouncil, showed a DVD.
Question 1:
Is the Vision for citizens or for tourists? We do not just want to consume, we want something to do (not just dance) for residents not just tourists.
Answer:
Council would agree, but tourism = employment, retail, financial services and the University, so it is important.

Question 2:
Proposed underground parking - lone woman driver reluctant to use it for safety reasons.
Answer:
Will have surface car parks for awhile, but are a waste of space. With various timed usage for office/night economy/beach and shopping, it is very rare to see all car parks filled at once and council has a chance to make more efficient use of them. Programme to take place over 20 years.

Question 3:
Removal of flyover - where will traffic go?
Answer:
Pier Approach is cluttered; idea is to make it more attractive. Do we want to be car dominated or use more public transport like Oxford and York? Could plan journeys to go to one side or the other. Take part in Consultation.

Question 4:
What about the Elderly or Disabled?
Answer:
Accessibility is important priority. There will be better facilities for limited mobility.

Comment: Years ago Pier Approach was busy with Zebra Crossing and police control - now would be chaos. Public transport is expensive for families.
Cllr Ron Whittaker: urged Forum Members to put their comments forward, e.g. the flyover, but everything is being concentrated on the Town Centre Vision while our area has suffered with funding for Hicks Farm being withdrawn for at least 3 years. Also urges support for the Kings Park leisure facilities which are important.

- Gypsy and Traveller Site

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Phil Robinson, Planning conservation and Design manager.
Council is not progressing any of the previous sites at this time and is looking for 1 or more sites which will go to public consultation. Provision of sites is in the housing Act 2004 and the Regional plan took it forward and planning legislation.
Finding a site is not easy as there are few available and there are local concerns.

Question 1:
If official site is full, is it true they can stay where they are camped?
Answer:
1 or 2 sites should be adequate. Chairman confirmed Forum has been advised, situation for police is as now and responsibility rests with the local authority.

Question 2:
Does any member of the panel know the Government guidelines on siting of Travellers with housing?
Answer:
Government issues specific advice and says do not find the worst piece of land as Gypsies and Travellers are a “Minority Group” and not to be penalised. In Bournemouth there is no site that will not be near housing. Management: An on-site manager will be very important. Chairman added we pointed out at the Examination in Public of the draft Regional Spatial Strategy, there are no brownfield sites and the proposed numbers have gone down, but requirement stands.
Cllr Anne Rey stated remaining sites on the list are the “Catteries” on Throop Road, between Townsend and Roffeys and Queens Park car Park. It should be away from Residents but somewhere we would live and Bristol is held up as an example. She would accept park and ride site behind the hospital. Officers are to go back to the drawing board.
Cllr David Shaw stated he had attended a meeting at the Pavilion with the Gypsy Liaison Officer and had had a second meeting with Cllr Charon (portfolio for Housing). He asked why the “Catteries,” which has houses round and is backed on to Castlepoint. 3 months ago, gypsies camped in Throop, but caused damage in Strouden and he called for backing and council to look elsewhere.

Question 3:
When they get here, what happens if they don’t pay - will they get away with it.

Question 4:
What has happened to Respect, Tolerance and Treating others as you want to be treated? Is age of Forum members attending meeting a factor? Questioner would have Gypsies and Travellers in her garden. Do not be racist.
Chairman agreed they are a Community, but if we supply something, it must be properly manned and controlled.
Cllr Anne Rey: Will respect Community if it respects us. B'mth Church housing will manage it and all must live together, but we must find a suitable place for them and us and manage it properly.

Question 5:
Will funding from Government be removed if no site is found?
Answer:
We are still looking but if Bournemouth does nothing we will lose Government funding which from memory is in excess of £1 million.

Response to Question 4:
Younger Forum Member - not racist, but respects those who respect us. People are responding to the behaviour of the Gypsies and Travellers and that is why people do not want them on their doorstep.
Cllr Ron Whittaker: Finding a permanent site is no problem, it is the Transit site which is difficult.

- Proposed Destruction of Green Belt

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Secretary introduced item and gave history:- draft RSS prepared by SWRA 2006. BBCouncil and elected representatives - including Ron, had put forward evidence based arguments to exclude development of our north Bournemouth Green Belt (Spur Road to Muscliff). SWRA commissioned the ARUP report, which despite representations from BBC, was adopted by the Independent panel, testing the draft RSS for soundness and the Green Belt was reinstated. The Secretary of State, Hazel Blears has now published her draft revised RSS for the South West and this also ignores the evidence from our local Council and concerns voiced by our elected representatives, in particular, there being no provision whatsoever to fund the hugely expensive infrastructure that would be required, making the housing undeliverable (1 ¼ miles over flood plain from Muscliff to Northbourne roundabout). Cllr Ron’s photo of flooding displayed. Recent report by Mouchel - transport consultants shows Castle Lane already at or over capacity. Other objections include the desecration of Bournemouth’s last bit of Green Belt and destruction of good quality farm land, damage to ecology and environment, loss of green space for leisure (Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces SANGS) and Heathland Mitigation, increased flood risk, increase in congestion and air pollution, no money for Schools, Health Services, Sewage Systems, damage to character of Bournemouth and Conservation areas.

The South East Dorset Defence Consortium has been formed to fight - 6 Councils (Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset County, Christchurch, East Dorset and Purbeck) and 7 Action Groups Corfe mullen, Parley, Wimborne, Lytchett Matravers, Lytchett Minster, Upton and TMSTH Area Forum (working closely with Littledown). Main thrust - letter writing. Tried to obtain consultation forms for everyone - GOSW refused, but getting worried by huge response. Details on back of agenda and on website - have a few forms, or “how to” slips, sample form on website. Demonstrations at all Council meetings - across the board support for no development in North Bournemouth. Green Protest Rally was held on 14th September.
9th October - deputation to Parliament - petition to Downing Street. Spaces on coach - names, addresses and telephone numbers if interested.
Petition - all sign tonight and any volunteers to collect.

Item handed over to Phil Robinson - Planning Conservation and Design Manager, BBC

Report prepared by Phil Robinson to go to LDF Steering Group 7th October and Cabinet 8th October for formulation of response to Hazel Blears’ draft Revised RSS. Issue is more than Green Belt. In first draft RSS, Housing target for Bournemouth was increased from figures prepared by BBCouncil to 14,600 by 2026 and the Examination in Public inflated this to 16,100 with 1,500 in the Green belt, which has been supported by the Secretary of State. EiP also set Gypsy and Traveller pitches to 28 Settled and 12 Transit, stating that number should grow by 3% per annum, but it is not made clear that this applies to the settled site not the transit site (or possibly and the transit site).

Affordable Housing will be 35%

Hazel Blears has deleted the policies which would help us with the infrastructure.

For Town Centre, Secretary of State is positive.

Joint Committee of Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset has prepared a detailed report:

-	Maintaining objection to the Greenbelt Sites
-	Concerned about the absence of infrastructure
-	Will join together to seek a barrister’s opinion to see if document can be legally challenged if we need to overturn the final report.

In his report to be presented to Cabinet, BBCouncil will be recommended to maintain objection to the overall housing unit figure of 16,100 as it is higher than the Borough needs and try to reduce Settled Gypsy Site to 13 (not 28) pitches and clarify 3% per annum increase only applies to these pitches.

Transport - Secretary of State has missed the point and we will struggle to get funding. Some say public transport will be used, others will have alternative view.

In short we will struggle to get developers to pay for infrastructure and we will struggle to get the money elsewhere.

Affordable Housing is a major issue and will be recommended for policies in the Town Centre.

Consultation period goes on until 24th October and Secretary of State is expected to report in January.

A Judicial Review would be costly, but could be considered combined along with other Authorities. Once RSS adopted, it is binding on Bournemouth Borough Council and the Local Development Framework to carry it out.

Chairman reminds everyone “now is the time” to complain, not after it has been passed.

Cllr Ron Whittaker: The Joint Meeting of the 4x4 Planning and Transportation Group (Bournemouth/Poole/Christchurch/Dorset) presented an evidence based case to the SWRA, but it was overruled at Exeter. We must fight all the way. The East of England is considering a Judicial Review.
The EiP Panel in Exeter felt it was inappropriate to get involved in selecting specific sites in the Green belt and it would leave it to the Council in the Local Development Framework to identify these, but stated we should allow for space and green spaces. The report presented to the Panel stated the financial implications may leave any development on the “borderline of deliverability.” The Joint Meeting moved that the Sub-Region objects most strongly to all development in the Green Belt in South East Dorset and the Western Sector, for which there is no clear evidence of need. It is totally unacceptable. The Group objects to the lack of commitment for any infrastructure, without which the urban extension is no longer deliverable. It will seek a judicial review, subject to funding.

Cllr Whittaker stated it had been a hard 4 years of work because Exeter has ignored everything. He thanked Forum for its support and the Dorset Defence Consortium. He stated there is no politics in this, all Members are working together and he thanked Phil Robinson for all his hard work.

- Residents Question Time

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Question 1:
If 1,500 houses are to be built, will Townsend School be reopened?
Attention was drawn to the back page of the Advertiser, section: What needs doing to improve your town or area? enquire to Editor
Answer:
If the RSS is rubber stamped, we will not be able to say no. This is a 20 year plan. Green belt is vulnerable, bulk of development is in the town, but flat Green Belt fields are easier to develop. If the whole system slows, the Green Belt will be the last to slow.

Question 2:
What is the size of the Green Belt and what density will be applied?
Answer:
A very rough estimate of 70 hectares and density could be 50 houses per hectare (23 per acre). High density required due to high development costs.

Question 3:
Strouden Park community Centre. What is the time scale for development and could notices go up in the Centre. 60 - 80 OAPs have lunch in the community centre every week - will there be minibuses to take them to relocation sites?
Answer:
Cllr Shaw: Community Centre plans have been put off. Housing may have to be delayed (8 town houses) but 10 bungalows will go ahead. OAPs will go to Townsend or the Church Hall near St Francis Church, but it will continue.

Question 4:
Why is the Chairman of the community Centre also looking for another venue?
Answer:
We are all working with the same people.

Question 5: Received by E-mail:
“Dear Sir/Madam,
As a resident of Strouden Park for the last 20 years and having a interest in local issues i would like to bring up the subject of the anti-social behaviour which has increased over the last two years in the Curlew Road area and the gathering of youths which was previously based around the infamous property in Castle Lane which has now been boarded up.
The gatherings of these youths cause noise distruption with their motorcycles and cars which can go on past midnight and more to the point under age alcohol and drug taking in and around (a property in) Curlew Road.
I would like you to bring this to the attention to any local councillor to try and solve this problem to the many residents in this road many of them elderly and scared to venture out of their properties at certain times of the day.
Many thanks,
The residents of Curlew Road Strouden Park"
Answer:
Cllr Trickett: Many issues were sorted out several years ago in mallard Road/Curlew. Anti-social behaviour is endemic in our broken society, etc., Strouden is no worse than any other Ward. Spoke to Curlew Road residents 9 months ago when youths with motorcycles were troublesome. And it is no longer a problem. There are some minor groups and the local PCs and PCSOs are working hard to keep them under control without being heavy handed. Cllr Shaw was assaulted and sustained a black eye, which behaviour will not be tolerated.
Answer:
PC Steve Shires. Statistics do not reflect that anti-social behaviour has increased. Anti-social Behaviour is across Bournemouth and police target areas of most complaints. Curlew Road has had no reports, so if this is happening, please report it! There has been some drug related behaviour, three drug warrants have been executed and the perpetrators taken to Court and punished, but if it has not stopped, the Police need reports.

Question 6:
Castle Lane and Cooper Dean roundabout works.
Answer:
A few safety points need following up - pedestrian lights are a long time to wait, we were promised a fence on the Ringwood slip and cycle lanes come to a dead stop. Forum will follow these up.

Question 7:
Green Belt - nothing has been made of the fact that flood plain will be affected by the run-off from tarmac, which is a threat to all of us in the flat areas. Would objectors please think of Cheltenham and Gloucester. The Government is behaving as if nothing happened, but in Chichester, people are still out of their homes.
Answer:
Cllr Borthwick: Government relies on this apathy. Appeal to everyone to get 10 letters out to their neighbours to put their names and addresses on.

Question 8:
Would the Echo print a form for everyone to fill out?
Answer:
Echo has reported protest actions but may be compromised if it actively campaigns.

- Any Other Business

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Proposed date of next Forum meeting 12th February 2009

Email: tmsthareaforum@yahoo.com